Fruit-jar



UNITED STATES ATENT Fmcn.

JOSEPH L. DE STEIGER, OF LA SALIJE, ILLINOIS.

FRUIT-JAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 574,306, dated December 29, 1896. I

Application filed March 14, 1896. Serial No. 583,190. [No model.)

To aZZ lull/ mit may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH L. DE STEIGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at La Salle, in the county of La Salle and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fruit-Jars; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and eX- act description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in fruit-jars; and it has for its object to improve the fasteners for the covers, so that said covers may be quickly and readily applied and as readily removed without any great care or exertion 0n the part of the operator.

A further object of the invention is to provide a jar and cover which may be easily constructed and the parts adapted for easy application in applying the cover.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description and claim when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fruitjar constructed according to my improvements. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the upper part of the jar and cover. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken in the plane indicated by the dotted line a; at of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the metallic fastener.

Referring by letter to said drawings, A indicates the jar, which may be made of glass or other suitable material. This jar or bottle, as the case may be, is provided adjacent to its mouth with an external annular flange a, which is preferably beveled, as shown, to receive a rubber ring or gasket Z), and forms an under shoulder c for the grasp or engagement of the metallic fastener or bail d, as will be presently described.

B indicatesthe cover, which may be also composed of glass or the like. This cover comprises a horizontal top e, having a circumferential depending flange f to bear upon the annular shoulder of the jar and the interposed gasket and is provided on its upper side, at diametrically opposite points, with two oppositely-directed curvilinear inclined planes or elevations g, which are so disposed as to leave between them an interspace h.

The cover is also provided with circumferential grooves or corrugations a, so as to afford 'a convenient means for grasping the cover to turn it in releasing the same from the fastener and also in securing the same on the jar or bottle.

0 indicates the fastener, which is preferably composed of metal. This fastener is of a form substantially as shown and is composed of a single piece of material comprising a horizontal portion j, having its ends bent downwardly, as at 76, and thence inwardly, as at Z. From these inward bends the material of one branch is carried horizontally and curvilinearly in one direction, as shown at to, preserving the curvature of the jar, and the opposite terminal is carried in a similar manner, but in an opposite direction, as shown at n. By this construction it will be seen that I form a very broad bearing for the engagement of the fastener, which will insure a firm engagement of the same with the jar.

The fastener is preferably composed of square wire, the diameter between the horizontal curved ends being a little smaller than the diameter of the jar under the shoulder, so that in applying the fastener the curved ends will spring into place and fit snugly.

In operation, after fruit (which is usually hot) has been placed in the jar and the gasket has been placed on the annular shoulder, the cover is placed in'position. The fastener is then placed straddling the cover between the inclined planes or elevations thereon, with the curved terminals beneath the shoulder. The cover should then be grasped and turned so that the metallic fastener will ride over the inclined elevations, when the cover will be drawn tightly upon the shoulder with the gasket interposed, and the result will be that the cover will be tightly or hermetically closed upon the jar.

IVhile I prefer to turn the cover as described, yet the fastener can be turned instead of the cover, when a similar result will follow; but in opening the jar, if the cover is very tight, as is often the case, the fastener may easily be turned off the inclined ridges or planes. Besides one may know if the jar is properly sealed by simply turning the fastener.

Having described my invention, what I I l l l the upper side, and the metallic fastener comprising the horizontal portion j, and the two depending branches 7:), terminating in the latcral and curvilinear branches turned in 0pposite directions to engage the lower shoulder of said flange, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOSEPH L. DE STEIGER. Witnesses MAE GEIB, LOUIS BURKART. 

